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Ohio Attorney General Refuses to Release Video of Black Man Shot by Police

John Crawford was shot and killed by police at a Walmart store in Beavercreek, Ohio, on Aug. 5.

Police claimed that Crawford refused to drop a weapon, which turned out to be a BB gun sold by the store.

Crawford's family and their attorney called on authorities to release the entire Walmart surveillance video of the shooting and for the case to be handed over to the U.S Department of Justice on Tuesday, noted WDTN (video below).

However, Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine announced on Tuesday that a special prosecutor, Mark Piepmeier of Hamilton County, was being assigned to the case.

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“What’s important is that [the surveillance video] not been publicly released," added Dewine. "I thought the family had the right to view it. The mom did not want to view it. I understand it. The dad did view it. To put the video out on TV is not the right thing to do.”

Michael Wright, an attorney representing the Crawfords, countered, “Everything released is one-sided. There is nothing favorable to John Crawford. You can’t show different pieces, show it all, don’t trickle pieces to gain favor of the public."

Beavercreek police have claimed in the past that Crawford was waving the BB gun and refused to drop it when he was told to do so by officers.

According to Wright, who viewed the video, Crawford was talking on his cell phone and may not have heard the officer. The next frame of the video shows Crawford on the floor, claimed Wright.